SJR77: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-4959/1

SRM:wlj:rs

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Senate JOINT RESOLUTION 77

April 21, 2006 - Introduced by Senators Coggs, Robson, Taylor, Risser and Erpenbach, cosponsored by Representatives Grigsby, Young, Turner, Kessler, Fields, Toles, Zepnick, Sinicki, Richards, Parisi, Pocan, Lehman, Berceau, Sheridan, Staskunas, Travis and Pope-Roberts. Referred to Committee on Labor and Election Process Reform.

SJR77,1,2 Relating to: reauthorization of the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

SJR77,1,8 Whereas, following the Civil War, Congress adopted the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, the 14th Amendment establishing the citizenship rights of all persons born in the United States and requiring that no one be denied due process or equal protection of the laws, and the 15th Amendment securing the right to vote for all citizens, regardless of a person's race, color, or former condition of servitude; and

SJR77,2,2 Whereas, despite the enactment of these significant constitutional commands, for nearly 100 years, states and local jurisdictions passed laws and instituted practices designed to circumvent the Civil War amendments; many states erected barriers to access to the polls, including infamous poll taxes and literacy or good character tests; and African-Americans, Latinos, and other minorities and those who advocated on their behalf often were subjected to severe violence and intimidation, or in some cases death, if they attempted to register to vote or cast a ballot; and

SJR77,2,5 Whereas, confronted with aggressive and relentless defiance of the Constitution, Congress enacted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to ensure that the rights guaranteed by the 14th and 15th Amendments were enforced; and

SJR77,2,11 Whereas, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is widely viewed as one of the most successful civil rights statutes ever enacted; it bans literacy tests and other discriminatory devices; outlaws discriminatory practices and procedures during the voting process; authorizes the appointment of federal election monitors and observers; and creates various means for protecting and enforcing the right of American citizens, including racial and language minorities, to vote; and

SJR77,2,15 Whereas, although the struggle to ensure fairness in the electoral process continues, as a result of the Voting Rights Act, racial and language minorities have enjoyed enhanced opportunities to participate in the electoral process, cast votes, and elect their candidates of choice; and

SJR77,2,18 Whereas, in 2007, certain "special provisions" of the Voting Rights Act that were enacted to address discriminatory voting practices and the present effects of those practices could expire if not renewed by Congress; and

SJR77,2,19 Whereas, these provision include:

SJR77,2,22 Section 2, the provision that equips voters with the means to challenge election laws that result in a denial or abridgement of voting rights on account of race, color, or language minority status;

SJR77,2,25 Section 4, the coverage provision, which determines which states and jurisdictions must seek section 5 preclearance, the coverage formula that reaches states and jurisdictions with some of the most active histories of discrimination;

SJR77,3,3 Section 5, the federal preclearance of voting changes provision, which requires covered jurisdictions to prove that voting changes are not discriminatory before they may legally take effect;

SJR77,3,5 Sections 6–9, the federal examiner/observer provisions, which set forth criteria for election monitoring by the department of justice; and

SJR77,3,8 Section 203, the bilingual voting materials provision, which mandates that certain voting materials be translated for language minorities in certain jurisdictions; and

SJR77,3,10 Whereas, by 2007, Congress will vote on whether to extend these "special provisions" of the Voting Rights Act; and

SJR77,3,13 Whereas, the effects of the long history of voting discrimination persist, and the "special provisions" of the Voting Rights Act continue to be extremely important tools for protecting minority voting; and

SJR77,3,16 Whereas, during the reauthorization process, Congress will comply a record that sets forth the continuing effects of the nation's widespread voting discrimination; and

SJR77,3,21 Whereas, voting is the cornerstone of American democracy and, during the reauthorization process, Congress and individuals and organizations concerned with maintaining the protections that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 provides will have an opportunity to present the evidence necessary to support renewal of the "special provisions" of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and

SJR77,3,24 Whereas, in the meantime, all eligible voters should register, confirm their registration status, and exercise the right to vote so that the long struggle to expand the franchise yields meaningful results; now, therefore, be it

SJR77,4,3 Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That: the members of the Wisconsin legislature urge Congress to reauthorize the "special provisions" of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

SJR77,4,4 (End)